Various planters exist along Washington Ave. A rectangular one is common since it doesn’t reduce the sidewalk width the way a round planter would.
But recently I noticed a number of spots around 13th Street where these planters used to exist.
Amazing how much darker the brick pavers are now some 10 years later. I’ve not (yet) counted how many planters are missing. It’s possible these were moved to other locations.
— Steve Patterson
Tonight (9/14) hundreds (thousands?) will converge on Central Field in Forest Park for the annual Balloon Glow, a tradition the night before the Great Forest Park Balloon Race.
The Balloon Glow starts at 7pm and ends around 8:30pm:
The Balloon Glow offers spectators a breathtaking view of inflated balloons lighted by their burners. Get up close and walk around the balloons. Refreshments and Food are available. The event will conclude with the PNC Bank fireworks finale display beginning at approximately 9pm.
If you plan to attend I suggest you think about your route into the park because driving up to the event isn’t an option (a disabled drop-off location exists). Last year I took the #10 MetroBus to the Central West End MetroBus Transit Center and crossed over kingshighway into the park. Many bus routes also end up at this transit center (adjacent to the CWE MetroLink station).
The “hare” balloon launches at 4:30pm on Saturday.
– Steve Patterson
Whenever I pass by the designated WeCar (car sharing) parking spaces downtown (usually 10th @ Washington) I look to see if the WeCar is there or out being used. I don’t know the usage, but often the space is empty so the car is being used by a WeCar member.
Then last month I was almost home when I stopped and snaped a picture of a couple unloading a WeCar from a shopping trip. I chatted with them briefly, they really enjoy having access to a car without having to own and pay for one 24/7/365. He was going to take up their purchases while she returned the car and walked back the 4/10th of a mile — six city blocks from 10th to 16th Street. They’d like to have a WeCar further west.
Per the WeCar downtown St. Louis page, six WeCars are located near the following intersections:
The farthest west are 10th & Olive and 10th & Washington. Along Olive there are five WeCars from Broadway (5th) to 10th — one per block. I’d think at least one between Tucker (12th) and 18th would do well. Perhaps WeCar looked at their membership and realized most live east of 10th, or those living west of Tucker don’t join because the WeCars are too far away?
A WeCar representative indicated via email they have adjusted car locations over the last four years based on customer feedback. Having one car per block along Olive works well, he said, but they’ll look again further west.
I’ve offered to help find a suitable location west of Tucker. Since parking meters are tied to parking garage bonds it might get complicated but I know of space where metered parking can be added to make up for one WeCar space.
— Steve Patterson
The weekly polls conducted here aren’t scientific but nevertheless I often find the results interesting. The post introducing the poll last week contained information on the increasing trend toward single occupant households, I won’t rehash it again.
Here were the results:
Q: Including yourself, what is the size of your current household?
- Two 42 [31.11%]
- One 41 [30.37%]
- Four 22 [16.3%]
- Five+ 16 [11..85%]
- Three 14 [10.37%]
More than sixty-percent live in a one or two person household. No major conclusions here, I just find this stuff interesting. The fact that more than twice as many indicated they have four+ vs three is interesting. I guess once a couple has one kid another one (or two) is likely to follow?
— Steve Patterson
I’ll never forget my first trip to New York, just over a month after the 9/11 terrorist attack. The destruction, the awful stench in the air.
I look forward to returning and seeing what has been built on the Ground Zero site.
— Steve Patterson